Last week’s Open Forum

Some of the main outcomes of last Thursday's Open Forum, when Tom Wade and Lee Picton represented the team and Kevin Scott represented the Executive Committee, are listed below:

*Tom hopes to re-sign most of this season's squad for next year with one or two 'marquee' signings in addition.

*Kevin said that part of the FA Cup run revenue would provide additional money for the playing side for two years. Some of the remainder of the money would provide a repairs fund for Croft Park (now on a 99 year peppercorn lease from the County Council) for the next four or five years. The balance of the FA Cup income would go to pay off outstanding debts.

*Kevin reported that a 3G pitch at the Kingsway end of the ground would be started in the next eight weeks and then take eight to ten weeks to complete.

*Tom said that his ambition is for the club is to play in the Conference North or higher. If we don't strive for this we may as well return to the Northern League, he said.

*Lee thanked everyone for making him welcome at the club. He too wants the club to move forward and to play a brand of football which makes fans want to spend their money on watching. He believes that Blyth can benefit from the huge apathy being shown in the region to Premier League football.

*Kevin said he was pleased with the increase in gates and he hoped that new housing developments in the town would contribute to this trend even further.

*Tom said that he thought that we will be the team to beat next season and that we stand at a point where we have a fantastic opportunity to do something special over the next two or three years. We have a massive chance to make everyone proud of the club and proud of the town, he added.